Chapter 20 Seto

Seto smiled over his wine. The salon had been ridiculously overpriced, but Jounouchi's hair looked fabulous. The new cut brought out his eyes and high cheekbones, and the dark highlights gave visual texture and depth that begged his fingers to run through them. Whoever on his personal staff had made the appointment was getting a bonus.

Really, the whole team should get one. Despite the abrupt change in schedule and the weather that had shut most of the city down, his staff had made arrangements with all the stores he needed and a few he hadn't expected. Overall, he was pleased.

With them. He was not pleased with himself that he allowed a fit of temper to spend almost two hundred thousand just to make a point.

But the watch that Jou would likely never wear was elegant. And the suit tailored at Brooks Brothers that would probably see the back of the closet rather than the light of day could land Jou on the cover of GQ.

Now, at a late lunch in the hotel's restaurant, watching Jou chat at the bar over a basketball game on the big screen, Seto was able to reflect.

Jou was a near perfect partner. Handsome, smart, witty, clever. Charming, social. He had the amazing gift of being able to spend an entire evening in a room full of strangers, talk all night, say not one word worth remembering, and yet make a thousand new friends before he left. As a networking tool, Jou was irreplaceable.

'He's adorable even when I'm angry with him.' Seto sighed.

"Sorry about that." Jou apologized as he rejoined Seto. "Got caught up in the game for a minute there."

"Quite alright. Mokuba claims he was napping and didn't hear the phone."

"Ah." Jou nodded. "A teenage boy, alone, with skinTV, was napping all morning. Sure."

"Is that how you would have spent the time?"

"Oh yeah! I used to 'nap' all the time." Jou's graphic hand gesture did not imply sleep. "In my room, in the school locker room, in the john."

"School? Is that why you seemed to actively pursue detention?"

"OK, so where did you 'nap'?"

"Hardly information for public consumption."

The lighthearted mood fled. "You'd buy a guy you don't even know a two thousand dollar watch, but you won't tell me where you jacked off in high school. And you don't think that's messed up?"

"Money is important but it's a tool. My intimate behavior is neither important nor useful."

"Why does it have to be useful? Why can't you tell me just cause I want to know?" Jou sighed heavily. "Never mind. I'm gonna watch the rest of the game." Jou got up and went back to the bar.

Author's End Note:

Standard reviews welcome. Even if you don't feel comfortable commenting, I would deeply appreciate a ":-)", ":-l", or ":-(". I feel a bit alone on this one. From the stage, the lights are blinding and you don't know if anyone is watching if the audience is silent. Let me know you're out there, please. Thank You. SJ